The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-09-19
WORK OF THE HOME CLUB
1t Only Repeats the Bitter Experiences
of Teams Now High in the League.
What 1t Needs to Bring 1t Up to the Desired
Standard President Ward Says the Play
ers' Brotherhood Must Be Recognized.

Jon in the National League has NOT been fatter-
ing. 1t has not been what the friends of the
club hoped for at the outset nor what they
confidently expected There is no Disgusting
he fact that the general feeling over The position
held by the club is one Of disappointment. An
almost unbroken succession of defeats has all
but disheartened the patrons of the sport in
Indianapolis that much is certain. But. after
All, does an unprecedented view of the situation
convince anyone that they had right to expect
morel Great bali clubs are not made in a day
Dr in q single season. and it stands to reason
bhat the youngest club association should
be the weakest 1t takes time to perfect organi-
sations of any character; and particularly in the
Ease of ball clubs it takes something more
than time-money. Indianapolis found itself
In the League in competition with Chicago De-
troir, New York, Philadelphia and Boston, clubs
that have been years building up. at outlay
of many thousands of dollars and having the
advantage Of many seasons play together.
They have spared no pans to secure the best
talent in the market. and in some instances
have paid as high as SIC, 900 for single player.
For years Detroit dragged along as tina tail
Inders in the same association of which they
are the leaders. and played to crowds
mailer in size than those with which the local
club is rewarded. Still they were not dis
souraged, and whenever opportunity offered to
good player they bought him. They
purchased the whole indianapolis club at one
lime to get one player. Sam Thompson. They
wiped the Buffalo club out of existence by
purchasing it's franchise in order to get
the famous Big Four, Brouthers, Rowe, Rich
lrdson and White, paying $500 for the fran
shise alone, besides giving heavy bonuses and
guaranteeing great salaries to the players in
dividually, and the pluck and lberaity OF the
management has been rewarded after years of
worse luck than Indianapolis has had. Boston
paid $40, 600 for Kelly alone in order to get a
field captain, and stands ready to-day to pay as
much more for Clarkson, if his release be
purchased. They pay Radbourne 81, 800. The
New Yorks have spared no expense to get to-
gether a team that is still unsatisfactory, and
will to-day pay $40, 900 for the release of Jerry
Denny by the Indianapolis club. Philadelphia
has secured the country for good players, and
their club this year is the result of several
Sons of patient work on the part of its manage
ment This year alone they have had
nearly thirty PLAYERS under engagement. In
1883 it was last in the race, with a record of
only seventeen games won De troit next above
it. New York third from the foot of the list
In 1854 Philadelphia was sixth, Detroit last,
New York fifth. Last season, Washington,
then in it's first year IN the League, was in last
place. with only twentv-eight games won; Kan
sas City next to last with thirty games to it's
credit So far this season the local club has
won thirty-one games. and will probably add
something TO this before the season finally closes
Then. TOO. the League was not near so strong last
year it is this Washington isfully fifty per cent
stronger this season than it was last, and the
weakest club in it is stronger by far than Kan
sas City The Indianapolis club has had
stronger clubs to compete with than have
yet constituted the League.
1t is undoubtedly true that the club has failed
to meet the expectations OF its friends but it's
record is not very discouraging after ALL after
q consideration Of the foregoing. 1t has suffered
the bitter experiences undergone by the
other clubs in the League, and must come out
Of its difficulties by the same means they have
smployed-bY spending money for crack players
and giving the members of the organization fair
opportunities to become thoroughly up in team
work through perfect acquaintance with each
other. 1t is certain that the management is de-
termined to have a CLUB in the field representing,
that shall be crsditable to the city
and satisfactory to it's patrons. There is not the
least question but that it will be in the League
another season if it wants to. and scarcely more
doubtful that the percen tage plan will be adopt
I'D for another year. thereby increasing it's
snues. The present season has been fairly sat-
financially. and every individual who
subscribed dollar to the club last spring has
certificate of stock for his investment worth it's
face value. There has been no reason to COM
plain of the attendance until the present, when
the constant and steady loss of games has
caused falling off. Fairly good luck for the /
holders, but dividend on their stock.
There is one other thing to be considered in
excusine the standing of the nine and that is
The element of luck. 1t is not proposed to plead
the baby act; but common fairness compels the
admission that the club has had hard luck. and
,lenty Of it. IL started in tie season with Boyle
dea]y and Kirby it's pitchers all of whom
.anked among the very best in the country last
easou. On the ST. Lo uis clubs last trip East
asst year they won seventeen out of the twenty
'ne games played and Healy and Kirby pitched
n every one of them, Boyle being disabled. This
year Healy for month unsteady to
De almost useless. sending six and eight men to
bases on balls every game he pitched. Yet he is !
me of the greatest pitchers in the country. and |
'annot be too highly priced by the club. His
work. subsequent to the period |
mentioned fully demonstrates that.
With three and four hits to the game last year. |
vas a most dismal failure, having broken down
and Henry Boyle has been sick |
nan the season through. Many people indulge |
he belief that he has feign ed illness, but there |
no justice in this He Is unquestionably in
% condition to pitch and has not been during |
hree-fourths of the The club |
therefore, compelled to try oil sorts Of costly
with Morrison, Sowders, Fass. and |
ther "phenomenonsp who were exploded at the
Expense OF the clubs standing Cahill and |
dcGeachy have each had to take a turn at pitch
ng in consequence Of THE sort of thing The
experiments with managers have been scarcely |
ess disastrous than the experiments with pitch
rs. Among the folders Cahill was a failure,
joke. and Johnson weak at best
Then, too. there Is little doubt that the club
as got much the worst of the umpiring. 1t has
'st several games on the home ground
trough what little short or bare-faced rob
cry, and abroad their opponents even have con-
sssed that they were robbed. AS George Myers
smarked when the club returned from its last
astern trip. on being asked to account for their
ing string of defeats: 1.-The truth OF the matter
that the Eastern clubs were pretty we'll
unched for leading pl aces, and they needed the
ames worse than we did At least the umpires
eeinec 10 think 80, and we got the worst of 1t
early every game we played" Doescher was
alr but he has only been given to the Indian
pos clnb for two games. Powers was awful.
nest was determined they should not win. and
rady robbed them out OF hand. Valentine has
cen very fair, and TO the mind of the Indianap-
rs pubic IS the best umpire seen here this year.
1t is hardly probable that the club will have TO
iffer the same disa advantages another year that
has this 1t is scarcely reasonable to suppose
lat its pitchers are going to be for the first
alf of another season. Jerry Denny has plav-
ball professionally for seven years and was |
ever injured so as To cause him TO lay off for n
,.nef Tw1Y LIZ I